Celebrating the Holidays with Health and Simplicity in Pandemic Times

Winter is setting in, Christmas is approaching and the current situation gives us a glimpse of a holiday season very different from what we know. Obviously, as a natural health ambassador, we suggest that you support your immunity more than ever in various ways to get through the holidays and winter peacefully and in good health.

This exceptional situation will be an opportunity to revisit our traditions as well as our values related to the festivities: getting back to basics, having gratitude for what we have, drawing inspiration from Hygge, this Danish art of life. Here are some inspirations for a holiday season that is certainly different, but which could prove rich and sweet for the soul.

Celebrating the Holidays Healthily and Simplicity in Times of Pandemic: Immune System Support

“The microbe is nothing, the terrain is everything” said Claude Bernard, a doctor in the 1800s. Thus, it is possible for us to support our immunity by providing the body with these key elements: vitamins A, D and C, the magnesium, the zinc and copper. Let us add to this the probiotics, because a healthy microbiota is the basis of good immunity.

Consider using essential oils in diffusion to purify the air while creating a festive atmosphere. Choose citrus fruits (lemon, orange, tangerine), conifers (fir, pine, spruce), eucalyptus, ravintsara or this mixture Fresh air from Now.

Herbal medicine is an incredible tool to support our immune system. Immuno-toning plants are used to encourage the body to increase the production of white blood cells and thus be ready for attack during a viral, bacterial or other intrusion. The formula Deep immune from St-Francis is an excellent herbal complex which will tone the immune system and which can be taken all year round.

The immuno-stimulating plants help the immune system defend the body against pathogens at the time of the first symptoms or to prevent them. These are plants that we take over a short period of time so as not to exhaust our system. Echinacea, elderberry, usnea and goldenseal will shorten your colds and flu.

Celebrate in health and simplicity in time of pandemic: Improving our ability to relax

The human being is a being of habit, but also of ritual. The current situation will offer us a minimalist version of what we usually know as celebrations. Perhaps we will find advantages there. Perhaps it will also be more difficult for many of us not to be able to come together as our traditions dictate. If we feel stress, anxiety and accumulated fatigue with the arrival of winter and the holidays, it may be interesting to naturally support our adrenal glands and our nervous system. This will have a positive impact on our natural immunity.

• Adaptogenic plants support the work of the adrenals in their main functions of stress and energy management: ashwagandha, holy basil, rhodiola, Siberian ginseng and panax, maca, medicinal mushrooms, etc.
• Calming plants help to lower excessively high cortisol levels which will result in a state of acute stress, nervousness, hyperactive mind, insomnia and anxiety: catnip, flowering oats, lavender, skullcap, passionflower, licorice, etc. The formula Calmix of Clef des champs or the LTO3 from Herb-e-Concept will know how to calm all these ills.

The serenity formula of Natural Factors and the formula Chill pills from New Roots offer a combination of adaptogenic and calming herbs for complete support. Do not hesitate to ask our advisors for advice to choose the formula that suits you.

Celebrate in health and simplicity in time of pandemic: Lifestyle habits

The holidays are often synonymous with overeating, sugar, alcohol, coffee, lack of sleep, stress and overstimulation. Taking care of our health is even more important right now. Our body is intelligent and by remaining attentive to the signals from our body, by responding to them with kindness, it is possible for us to apply healthy actions that are significant for our health.

Hygge to get through winter and celebrate the holidays

The term Hygge (pronounced "hoo-ga") would in fact be a survival strategy for the Danes to get through the winter. Moreover, the Danes are said to be among the happiest people, despite their gray, rainy weather and their long winters. Author Meik Wiking, director of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, explains in The book of Hygge, better living, the Danish method, that this art consists of “enjoying those you love by spending time with them, with this feeling of feeling at home, safe. » The Hygge evokes the notions of “comfort, living together and deep well-being”.

Have gratitude for what you have

This Danish art of living invites you to find comfort in what you simply have. Conversely, modern holidays encourage overconsumption (abundance of gifts, food, alcohol, parties, etc.). And for many of us, the holidays are also synonymous with stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, weight gain, compromised health, and sometimes even holes in our finances. This pandemic could be an opportunity to experience the holidays differently, in simplicity, comfort and minimalism.  Celebrating love, our connections, our roof. This philosophy of life emphasizes the quality of time spent with family, its connection to oneself and to others. For gentler, more refreshing celebrations that are closer to our values! Why not?!

Celebrate in health and simplicity in time of pandemic: Create a warm atmosphere and treat yourself to a break

The Hygge invites well-being by taking care to create a warm atmosphere in its cocoon, to appreciate the warmth of the home while it is cold outside, to the conviviality of this moment shared with those who are dear to us. These simple, but oh so precious, little moments in life are often the moments we cherish the most:

• Drink a hot chocolate with our children stuck in a blanket
• Listen to a good movie while eating a popcorn seasoned with nutritional yeast (rich in B vitamins), turmeric (anti-inflammatory) and olive oil
• Dress comfortably in our favorite wool socks & laze around the fireplace
• Listen to your Christmas music by doing a puzzle alone or with your family
• Reading a good book wrapped in blankets while drinking tea
• Take a hot bath beeswax candles

Let's take advantage of this period of celebration to reevaluate what is consistent with our values, our health and our joy of living.

We wish you a sweet, warm and healthy holiday season!

About the author

Naturopaths from La Boite à Grains

Team of qualified and certified naturopaths (ND) in Gatineau in Outaouais.

Original article written by Laurence Couture-Dubé, Naturopath

References

• Céline Arsenault, Natural care guide for the family, Éditions Le Dauphin Blanc, 2003

• Michel Turbide, Aromatherapy, Essential oils from Quebec and the world, therapeutic applications, Édition Santé-Arôme, 2015

• Mike Wiking, The book of Hygge, better living, the Danish method, First Editions, 2016

• Elisabeth Simard, Living simply, getting out of modern chaos and offering yourself a sweeter life, Éditions Guy Saint-Jean, 2018